Liquid jet head and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A liquid jet head includes a nozzle member having plural nozzles for jetting a liquid therefrom, a flow path member forming at least a part of a liquid chamber communicating with each of the plural nozzles, and a pressure generating part for generating pressure that is applied to the liquid inside the liquid chamber. The nozzle member and the flow path member are each formed by a metal material. The metal material of the nozzle member has substantially the same composition as the metal material of the flow path member. The metal material of the nozzle member includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter which is less than that of the crystal particles included in the metal material of the flow path member.

1. A liquid jet head comprising:
 a nozzle member having a plurality of nozzles for jetting a liquid therefrom; 
 a flow path member forming at least a part of a liquid chamber communicating with each of the plural nozzles; and 
 a pressure generating part for generating pressure that is applied to the liquid inside the liquid chamber; 
 wherein the nozzle member and the flow path member are each formed by a metal material; 
 wherein the metal material of the nozzle member has substantially the same composition as the metal material of the flow path member; 
 wherein the metal material of the nozzle member includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter which is less than that of the crystal particles included in the metal material of the flow path member; 
 wherein the nozzle member and the flow path member are integrally formed; and 
 wherein the flow path member has a portion positioned toward an interface with the nozzle member, and the portion includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter which is substantially the same as that of the crystal particles of the nozzle member. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle member and the flow path member are formed by electrodeposition. 
     
     
       3. The liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the flow path member is situated in an area within 0.1 μm to 5 μm of the interface with the nozzle member. 
     
     
       4. The liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flow path member has a portion positioned toward the interface with the nozzle member, wherein the portion includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter that increases the farther away are the crystal particles from the interface with the nozzle member. 
     
     
       5. The liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the metal material is nickel. 
     
     
       6. The liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the nickel has an X-ray diffraction spectrum having diffraction peaks at least in a Ni ( 111 ) plane and a Ni ( 200 ). 
     
     
       7. The liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the nozzle member and the flow path member are configured to exhibit a peak intensity ratio satisfying a relationship of “l a  ( 111 ) /l a  ( 200 ) <l b  ( 111 ) / l a  ( 200 )”;
 wherein “l a  ( 111 )” indicates a diffraction peak intensity of the ( 111 ) plane of the nozzle member, “l a  ( 200 )” indicates a diffraction peak intensity of the ( 200 ) plane of the nozzle member, “l b  ( 111 )” indicates a diffraction peak intensity of the ( 111 ) plane of the flow path member, and “l b  ( 200 )” indicates a diffraction peak intensity of the ( 200 ) plane of the flow path member. 
 
     
     
       8. The liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: a water-repellent layer formed on a liquid jetting side of the nozzle member. 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus comprising: the liquid jet head as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       10. A liquid jet head comprising:
 a nozzle member having a plurality of nozzles for jetting a liquid therefrom; 
 a flow path member forming at least a part of a plurality of liquid chambers communicating to each of the plural nozzles; 
 a common flow path for supplying the liquid to each of the liquid chambers; 
 a fluid resistance member forming a plurality of fluid resistance parts between the common flow path and each liquid chamber; and 
 a pressure generating part for generating pressure that is applied to the liquid inside the liquid chamber; 
 wherein the fluid resistance member and the flow path member are each formed by a metal material; 
 wherein the metal material of the fluid resistance member has substantially the same composition as the metal material of the flow path member; 
 wherein the metal material of the fluid resistance member includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter which is less than that of the crystal particles included in the metal material of the flow path member; 
 wherein the fluid resistance member and the flow path member are integrally formed; and 
 wherein the flow path member has a portion positioned toward an interface with the fluid resistance member, wherein the portion includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter which is substantially the same as that of the crystal particles of the fluid resistance member. 
 
     
     
       11. A liquid jet head comprising:
 a liquid chamber communicating to a plurality of nozzles for jetting a liquid therefrom; 
 a flow path member forming at least a part of the liquid chamber; 
 a pressure generating part for generating pressure that is applied to the liquid inside the liquid chamber; and 
 a thin layer member integrally formed with the flow path member; wherein the thin layer member is thinner than the flow path member; 
 wherein the thin layer member and the flow path member are each formed by a metal material; 
 wherein the metal material of the thin layer member has substantially the same composition as the metal material of the flow path member; 
 wherein the metal material of the thin layer member includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter which is less than that of the crystal particles included in the metal material of the flow path member; 
 wherein the thin layer member and the flow path member are integrally formed; and 
 wherein the flow path member has a portion positioned toward an interface with the thin layer member, wherein the portion includes crystal particles having an average particle diameter which is substantially the same as that of the crystal particles of the thin layer member.